I recently heard of a proposed new bill that would make it illegal for pet stores to sell puppies. The proposed bill is due to the fact most of the puppies found in pet stores come from what are known as “puppy mills.” The USDA considers dogs in these mills as “livestock,” and as such, are part of a large-scale operation where the dogs do not live in the conditions they deserve. The dogs live in filthy, overcrowded cages and do not receive proper nutrition. Furthermore, once the dogs are no longer able to breed, they are killed inhumanely.

Therefore, puppies sold in pet stores are often unhealthy. Also, you have to be careful to make sure that the purebred you are paying the hefty price tag for is in fact a purebred. My mother once bought a “purebred” Shetland Sheepdog from a local pet store, but whether the dog was in fact a purebred was questionable. The dog was much smaller in size as an adult than most dogs of that breed, and her fur coat never became very full and thick like Shelties are known for. But if you purchased a dog from a pet store and shortly thereafter found out that there was a problem with the dog, how could you return the dog after falling in love with him/her? Would you even consider returning the dog?

For these reasons, it is recommended that if you are looking to purchase a purebred dog, seek out a reputable breeder. Or better yet, consider adopting from a shelter. Sometimes shelters have purebred puppies, or purebred dogs that are a few years old. Also consider a mixed breed dog or puppy. They are just as cute and loveable!

Have you ever purchased a puppy from a pet store? If so, how has your experience been?